PNS TIPPU SULTAN DEPARTED AFTER SUCCESSFUL VISIT TO COLOMBO

Pakistan Navy Ship “TIPPU SULTAN” departed from Port of Colombo after a successful 3 days’ goodwill visit from 18-20^th June 2023. The ship was given a traditional farewell by SL Navy, when it left the port amid tunes of Pakistani National Songs played by a smartly turned out SL Navy Band.

During stay at port, Captain Jawad Hussain TI (M) TBt, Commanding Officer of the ship called on Commander Western Naval Area. Pakistan Navy officers and men visited different Sri Lanka Navy units/ training facilities as well as participated in the friendly sports meets arranged by SL Navy. SLN Officers and men visited PNS Tippu Sultan and interaction resulted in exchange of professional knowledge on matters on mutual interests.

Highlight of PNS Tippu Sultan visit was a colorful dinner reception displaying traditional Pakistani hospitality, hosted on-board Pakistan Naval Ship Tippu Sultan, last evening at Colombo Dockyard. Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Speaker of Parliament graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The reception was attended by Hon. Bandula Gunawardena, M.P, Minister of Transport and Highways and Minister of Mass Media, Hon. Vidura Wikramanayaka, M.P, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Hon.(Dr.) Suren Raghavan, M.P, State Minister of Higher Education, Hon. Rohana Dissanayaka, M.P, State Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Hon. Anuradha Jayarathna, M.P, State Minister of Justice and Prison Affairs, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd), Secretary to Ministry of Defense, General Shavindra Silva, Chief of Defense Staff, Lieutenant  General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of SL Army, Vice Admiral Piryantha Perera,  Comd of SL Navy, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, Comd of SL Air Force,  High Commissioner of Pakistan Major General (Retd) Umar Farooq Burki, HI(M), Ambassadors/ High Commissioners from friendly nations, Senior Serving and Retired Officers of Sri Lankan Armed Forces, Defense Advisors/ Attachés, Officers of Pakistan High Commission, a large number of guests from different spheres of life and representatives of media.

While welcoming the guests, Commander of the ship Captain Jawad Hussain said that Pakistan and Sri Lanka have strong ties and both navies engage in multilayered cooperation.  The visit is a manifestation of the strong diplomatic, economic, cultural and defense relations between the two friendly countries and aimed at further strengthening these existing bonds, he highlighted.

High Commissioner of Pakistan Major General (Retd) Umar Farooq Burki, thanked the respected guests for attending the reception onboard PNS Tippu Sultan. HC reiterated that bilateral relations between the two nations and the two armed forces are exemplary and expressed his resolve to fortify them with each passing day. He highlighted that recent high level bilateral visits and interactions are the manifestation of common desire to cooperate. Historically both nations have demonstrated to standby either side in times of need.

Later on, a cake commemorating Pakistan-Sri Lanka friendship was jointly cut by Chief Guest, Ministers, Secretary Defense, Chief of Defense Staff, Commanders of Tri-Services, High Commissioner of Pakistan, Captain of the Ship and Pakistan Defense Advisor.

During its return voyage, PNS Tippu Sultan conducted “Passage Exercise” with SLN Ship Gajabahu, aimed at to enhancing the interoperability and mutual coordination between the two navies.

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Colombo
20-06-2023